Guitar 102: Tapping the guitar

Here’s a style that you’ve seen in Van Halen, Stanley Jordan, and this guy called Eric Mongrain! They all have different styles. Halen is rock, Jordan is jazz, Mongrain is more Bluegrass/Country. But they all play a technique that transforms the guitar into a piano-like instrument.

Tapping involves using both right and left hand to play harmonic tunes. Usually the right hand strums or picks the strings individually or together. In tapping, the right hand is brought into play, as it literally taps strings to produce bell like tones.

Mastering this technique is difficult. But once you’ve got it down, it will blow people away!